"Therefore go and make people from all nations into talmidim (disciples), immersing them into the reality of the Father, Son and the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember! I will be with you always, yes, even until the end of the age." (Matt. 28:19-20)
I could go on and on about how several years ago I was confused about the Trinity and what it all meant, I even have a page in my journal of spiritual thoughts that shows how confused I was. I believed in all the "persons" of God, but I wasn't comfortable with the term persons (as a result I wouldn't sing that line in "Holy, Holy, Holy"). I also wasn't sure whether they were all equal or not, and I was not settled in how it was possible that Jesus could be God and the Father could be God while Jesus came to earth, and still be One.
I can't say that I've got it all figured out, but I am now much more comfortable with the theology of the Trinity that is spelled out in the Apostles Creed, in reformed doctrines and the like. Part of what has gotten me to this point is a little more study and prayer, as well as just walking with God longer, which always grows us. Another thing that has strengthened my belief in Trinitarian understanding has been me getting caught up in the mystery of it and recognizing that the early church and ancient Israel had worship that spoke of and rejoiced in the mysteries of God. We must embrace mystery, and worship is a great time and place to do that. Unfortunately the Western church historically began to lose the mystery element that is so characteristic of the eastern church. I can't explain in technical terms how God is One, and yet is three distinct manifestations, but He has told us that He is and has revealed Himself to be. If we could understand and explain everything about God than He would fail to be God. I know skeptics would call that a copout, but its true, and God himself has challenged people in the past to explain everything about Him and the things He has done, and those people were massively humbled afterwards.
So, I've been including songs that mention Father, Son and Holy Spirit more intentionally and been hoping that it will help us to remember that "reality" of who God is and how He has worked in creation thru all three persons. May we all be immersed into the reality of the Trinity, and live and worship according to that reality, recognizing that the Spirit leads us in worship that is in Spirit and in truth, and the Father works in our worship thru the Spirit to mold us more into the life of Jesus. We can come to the throne of the Father only because the Son made a way thru His incarnation, death and resurrection. The Father's will worked out thru His hands and feet, the Spirit and Son, leads His creation back to a redeemed relationship with Him and a right worship of Him, and Him alone, like it was in the beginning. I don't know about you, but I sure am excited to see what its like for heaven and earth to be a 100% theater of praise to our Lord. And maybe a little bit more of the mystery of the Trinity will be understood then :)
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